The Philosophy of the BRICS

The rise of BRICS is one of the epochal developments in the first decade of 21st century. Source: Reuters

As one of the most crucial centres of world politics, the five-year old, five-member group has long innings to play in international political and economic arenas.

The rise of
BRICS has not taken place in a vacuum. The fragile word situation has certainly
played a role in its rise. As one of the most crucial centres of world
politics, the five-year old, five-member group, BRICS has long innings to play
in international political and economic arenas. Its life will spread at least
decades as all the members are steadily rising and their rising in part has
played a role in providing economic and political directions to the world. The
rise of BRICS is one of the epochal developments in the first decade of 21st
century. As any path-breaking organisations, BRICS has its underlying
philosophy or rather guiding principles. From these principles the body draws
its sustenance and from which its policies and actions emanate.

In this
article, I attempt to identify the overarching philosophy of BRICS. It may be
constrained to identify in detail all the components of BRICS philosophy in a
short piece, but an outline of it will certainly help in the understanding of
organisation of the body, its rise, its utility and relevance in the world scene,
and also help in clearing the mist that clouds the understanding of other
groups which perceive the body primarily in antithetical terms.

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BRICS is
based on the principle that there is not a single power or a group of powers
including the body itself that dominate the world scene. Applying the
philosophical jargon: ‘the universe is but a multi-verse,’ the core assumption
on which the body is found is that in the new world there are multiple centres
of power spreading across continents. The governing principle of these centres
is not a realist notion of power as reflected in defence preparedness or
economic might, but fair play in international politics in a framework of
dialogue and cooperation, not competition. The first philosophical element of
BRICS is: the world is multi-polar, the game is non-zero sum, and the means are
mutual understanding and cooperation. The noted Russian scholar, Andrei Volodin in one of
his recent articles titled ‘A Global Stalemate’ articulated how the world is no
more ready to tolerate a uni-polar world. The current situation is characterised
by “the inability of the monocentric/ ‘unipolar’ system for self-development
and self-correction (resulting in a permanent systemic crisis); economic
de-industrialisation in the absence of a real rival-‘stimulator’; and the
de-democratisation of public life after the disappearance of an alternative
political system and its global ‘gravitational field’.” Russian President
Vladimir Putin’s argument perhaps reflects this philosophical element of multi-polar
cooperative order vividly. Before the Durban Summit of the BRICS he gave an
interview to ITAR-TASS, in which he argued, “We do not
view BRICS as a geopolitical competitor to western countries or their organisations
— on the contrary, we are open to discussion with any country or organization
that is willing to do so within the framework of the common multi-polar world
order.” This is the core philosophical elements of BRICS, from which all other
elements flow.

As BRICS
believes that dialogue and cooperation are requisite means to address global
issues, it is an avid supporter of the international mechanisms – particularly
the United Nations Organisation (UNO). The UNO, found on the debris of the
Second World War, aimed at checkmating the nations’ proclivity to war. The
United Nations Charter articulated how the international body, representing all
nations of the world, is the most appropriate forum to ensure international
peace and security. The UN General Assembly granted all member nations equality
in decision making process. The similarity between the UNO and the BRICS can be
traced to their common belief that through dialogue and cooperation global
issues, whether climate change or terrorism and religious fundamentalism, or
drug trafficking, can be resolved. The second philosophical element, hence, of
the BRICS is to work through international bodies like the UNO, rather than
through mechanisms of a particular nation or group of nations.

The third
philosophical element of BRICS is gradualism and incremental change. BRICS
abhors hasty action, or any change wrought by violence, impinging on a
country’s independence and sovereignty. Heavy-handedness is pariah to BRICS
principle. This principle applies to their international postures as well as to
their internal workings. China’s emphasis on its ‘peaceful and harmonious rise’
implies that it is interested to sort out differences with neighbours and
rivals in a peaceful way. At the sidelines of the Durban summit, leaders of
India and China met and pledged to resolve differences including the border
dispute through dialogue and cooperation. This is a welcome sign. Whether
intra-group differences or differences with other groups the emphasis on
gradualism will help the BRICS steer ahead of other groups. This principle can
be applied to the much debated BRICS bank, which is an apt case of this
gradualism. The leaders announced the bank and allowed their ministers to
develop details in coming months. This gradualism principle also applies to
BRICS’ approaches to international conflicts whether in Syria, Iran or North
Korea. The body at Durban harps on the role of the UN and Arab League mediator
and the Geneva communiqué to address the conflict in Syria. It has resisted any
armed intervention in the war-torn country as it believes armed intervention
will bring in its train sufferings that will far outweigh any advantage of the
intervention. Syria is already a sectarian time bomb, already ticking to
explode. Any armed intervention will hasten this process of explosion. BRICS
can play an effective role in the conflict by harping on the UN role and by
providing a roadmap while keeping in view the UN guidelines.

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BRICS
abhors statism. As the world is changing fast in both political and economic
profiles, the body argues that the world bodies must reflect the change.
Applying the Hegelian philosophy, though in a different context, the world
spirit is moving from the west to the east and the world order needs to reflect
this movement. The fourth philosophical element of BRICS, hence, is reform of
international bodies to reflect the change and make the world a level playing
field in which fairness, not ideology or sheer military muscle or economic
power, will be the key guide. Applying this principle, the body will be
interested in the reform of international bodies and organs like United Nations
Security Council, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, etc. These bodies
reflected the power dynamics that prevailed six decades ago. In the past six
decades significant changes have taken place. The world is no more bipolar or
uni-polar, the economic hubs are no more confined to the north, the powers and
aspirations of nations in the east have grown and need representation in these
bodies. BRICS embodies the aspirations of rising nations. In order to
accommodate these aspirations it is necessary that international bodies
accommodate these emerging nations.

BRICS Bank
has generated lot of debates in various circles. On principle the BRICS’
leaders agree that in the prevailing world situation, in which economic
instability is a major concern, the establishment of the bank can play a
dynamic role in stabilizing economy, particularly of the developing countries.
As BRICS is away from promoting a particular country’s national interest at the
cost of sacrificing fair and just principles, it is interested to promote the
interests of the group and also of other countries in tandem. In this sense,
innovation is the fifth philosophical element of BRICS. Whether it is
establishment of BRICS bank, or Business Council or Think Tanks Council– these
are novel measures to address pressing global issues. The countries of the
grouping enjoyed average GDP growth rate at 4 per cent in 2012, while the G-7
countries had GDP growth rate at 0.7 per cent in the same period. As Putin in
his interview argued, global economy is interconnected and as a result the
economic volatility of the west has also affected economic growth of the east.
The interesting sign is that the west is gradually coming to grips with the
changing power equations in the world. The World Bank in a recent statement
welcomed the BRICS bank idea and expressed interest to work with the new bank.
The innovations of the BRICS, with cooperation from bodies outside, can play a
positive role in salvaging the world from multiple sclerosis.

I must
sound a crucial caveat in this BRICS philosophy. As I have hinted earlier, this
philosophy applies equally to the internal functioning of the group as well its
outer policies and actions. The philosophy does hold no ground, and also
provide much fodder to the detractors of the group and adherents to statism, if
the members do not coordinate their positions and stand in unison. BRICS is a
golden opportunity to reshape the world order. But it can be a fallen promise.
The BRICS family, hence, must first develop strong family bonding.

Dr
Debidatta Aurobinda Mahapatra is an Indian commentator. His areas of interests include India-Russia relations, conflict and
peace, and strategic aspects of Eurasian politics.